Myth and Truth About Libertarianism

Libertarians believe that each individual is an isolated, hermetically sealed atom, acting in a vacuum without influencing each other.

Libertarians are libertines: they are hedonists who hanker after “alternative lifestyles.”

Libertarians do not believe in moral principles; they limit themselves to cost-benefit analysis on the assumption that man is always rational.

Libertarianism is atheistic and materialist, and neglects the spiritual side of life.

Libertarians are utopians who believe that all people are good, and that therefore state control is not necessary.

Libertarians believe that every person knows his own interests best.

Conclusion

Notes

[This essay is based on a paper presented at the April 1979 national meeting of the Philadelphia Society in Chicago. The theme of the meeting was “Conservatism and Libertarianism.”]

Libertarianism is the fastest growing political creed in America today. Before judging and evaluating libertarianism, it is vitally important to find out precisely what that doctrine is, and, more particularly, what it is not. It is especially important to clear up a number of misconceptions about libertarianism that are held by most people, and particularly by conservatives. In this essay I shall enumerate and critically analyze the most common myths that are held about libertarianism. When these are cleared away, people will then be able to discuss libertarianism free of egregious myths and misconceptions, and to deal with it as it should be on its very own merits or demerits.